Great day today! This group is amazing, curious about everything and willing to try and experience new things. Brydie and Victoria didn't have a very good night last night so I gave them some Melatonin to try tonight. Hopefully, they will sleep better tonight. If Melatonin doesn't work, the 3 miles they probably walked today will!

A Hike to the Top of the L'Arc de Triomphe and Walk Down the Grand Boulevards

Staircase to the L'Arc de Triomphe

View from the top.

Crystal stairs

"Why do they have coffee beans in a cup at Guerlin?"-Brydie

Guerlin Perfumes

These men wanted us to take their photo. They said they were the major Parisian monuments.

Givenchy

I think Hillary said it all. I am happy they went into Dior and Chanel to see what a luxury store looks like. You are lucky that sales started today! :) Just adding a few of my photos now.

I am close to figuring out how to add videos. I will try tomorrow. Well, actually I just did it.

Day 2- Eiffel Tower and Seine River Tour

Vaucresson Train Station

Issam & the Head of Suger talk to Florence

Commuting to Paris

View from the Eiffel Tower.

Sarina skates on the Eiffel tower.

Lunch on the bateau.

Every day we meet at 9am at the Vaucresson train station to commute to Paris. Today we visited the Eiffel tower and had a nice lunch on a river boat with fantastic views of the city. Later we walked into Chanel and Christian Dior.

Everyone is well rested and eating great food with their host families. Tonight, Atrina's family will be taking her to a ballet! Maeve's family lives on a houseboat.

January 5th: Great pictures, Hillary! I am happy there is no photo of me stuffing myself with cheese as soon as we landed!!! I can't wait to see them this morning to hear about all the fun things that happened yesterday afternoon when they went to their host's home! It reminded me the first time I had to use an American shower and had no idea what to do with that big round thing on the shower wall or when I had to switch off the light on my night table! no switch anywhere. I had no idea how to do it so I just unplugged it from the wall! I am already laughing about what I am going to hear tomorrow morning!
Florence
ps) My parents' new kitten decided he loves me....I am having fun too.

Arrival at Ecole Suger

 We all arrived a bit jet lagged but had a safe flight. Here are a few photos of the first meeting of our students with their host sisters and brothers. The Suger staff prepared a nice table full of pastries, cheeses and bread for us.

 Today the students are taking it easy in their new homes. Tomorrow the Parisian adventure begins!

Atrina meets her host sister.

France 1983- Hillary's First Visit to France

Hillary at age 18- Metro ID

I thought I'd dig through some old photos and journals to find out how I felt on my first trip to France to share some experiences. After my family hosted a French boy, Frederique, I went to stay with him and his family for a month after I graduated from high school in a small town called, Mante La Jolie, the last stop on the RER.

My first experience eating at a creperie! I had a crush on the guy in the blue jacket.

I went with my best friend Alix who stayed with a really cool family with three teenagers. The family I stayed with was very traditional and proper unlike my family at home so it took some adjusting!

The Calu family & Alix on a camping trip

First impression from the airport to the town: Everything seemed so small to me. In America we have big billboards, big cars and lots of ads everywhere.

When I arrived I wondered what the strange thing in the bathroom was used for. (Un bidet) I also found it strange that they didn't have a shower, just a tub with a shower hose attached.

Frederique's mother was a housewife so I ended up spending most of my time with her when I wasn't hanging out with Alix and the Calu family. She took Alix and I to visit some local castles. This made a great impression on me since I had grown up reading lots of fairy tales. I actually got to see a real castle, not just an American idea of one from Disneyland!

Alix & Frederique in Paris

I kept a journal during my trip to record my observations. It's fun to look back and read my teenage impressions of a new country and culture There are lots of crazy stories from that adventure and I'm sure you'll have some too after your home stay.

Hillary at the Pompidou art museum in Paris.

We loved these old cars.

Paris Rooftop

One of the highlights of our trip was hanging out with a band on a rooftop in Paris and watching them practice.  Notice the zebra print shirt! I had one that was purple and black. So 80's!